Key moment: Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin made an ill-advised pinch along the boards and was caught out of position when the Sharks charged the other direction on a 3-on-1 break. Joe Thornton scored to cap the rush, erasing a 1-0 deficit and propelling San Jose to a 5-1 win at Staples Center.

Pivotal players: The Sharks made life difficult for Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, screening his view and deflecting shots from the perimeter. Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl scored off redirected shots that Quick had no chance of stopping.

Questionable hit: The Kings’ Dustin Brown cracked the Sharks’ Logan Couture with a late hit at the blue line in the first period. Brown was not penalized on the play by TV replays from a number of angles indicated he struck Couture in the head, which could bring a call from the NHL office soon.

Between the pipes: Quick started for the Kings and his former backup, Martin Jones, was in goal for the Sharks. The Kings traded Jones to the Boston Bruins for Milan Lucic on June 26 and then the Bruins traded him to the Sharks several days later. Quick made 27 saves; Jones made 19.

Injury update: Left wing Dwight King (lower body) did not dress. He is expected to be sidelined for an extended period after he was hurt in the Kings’ exhibition finale Saturday. Muzzin and fellow defenseman Matt Greene were in the lineup after suffering upper-body injuries in exhibition games.

Up next: The Kings play host to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday at Staples Center.